greenfix

AC Greenfix

Introduction
AC Greenfix, a variety of chickling vetch (Lathyrus sativus) was released to JOHNSON SEEDS in 1995. Chickling vetch, a new type of annual legume for the prairies, has great potential as a green manure crop.

High Biomass Yields
AC Greenfix is slow to get started, similar to most other legumes, but grows aggressively once it is established. Chemical weed control is not recommended as the crop can be incorporated along with the weeds, prior to any viable seed set.

High Nitrogen Content
The superior nitrogen fixation ability of AC Greenfix makes it a good choice for improving soil nitrogen fertility on the prairies.

High Water Use Efficiency
AC Greenfix performs well under conditions of moisture stress without depleting sub-soil moisture.

Low Seeding Rate
The profuse branching of AC Greenfix, means a seeding rate of only 70 lbs/acre, keeping seed costs low.

Grain Production
AC Greenfix will set seed and then die, similar to most annual crops, but the grain from this variety should not be fed to livestock as it contains a neurotoxin that may cause the onset of an irreversible paralysis.

Recommendations
Seed AC Greenfix at 70 lbs/acre as early in spring as possible ( it has good frost tolerance) and work it into the soil at full bloom or later. Be sure to use a peat based, or granular inoculant to ensure nodulation and good nitrogen fixation. AC Greenfix uses the same inoculant as peas. Crop desiccation also works, but 20 percent of the nitrogen from the above ground plant parts can be lost. If drought conditions occur during production, and a water deficit for the following year's crop is a concern, then incorporate AC Greenfix prior to full bloom to conserve soil moisture levels.

AC Greenfix was created by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

Research Results

Table 1: Dry matter production at full bloom of AC Greenfix chickling vetch compared to "Indianhead" black lentil in Saskatchewan and Alberta tests averaged by soil zone.

SOIL TYPE	AC Greenfix (C.V.) kg/ha	Indianhead (B.L) kg/ha	C.V. Yield as % of B.L.
Brown	1967	1452	136
Dark Brown	2300	1173	196
Black	2975	3100	96
Black Solod	2789	2925	95

Table 2: Nitrogen fixation by the difference (inoculated plant N- uninoculated plant N) for four legume green manure crops at full bloom at Swift Current, SK (3 year mean from 1984, 1986, 1987)

Legume	% plant N derived from atmosphere	Total fixed N (Tops and Roots) Mean kg/ha	Total fixed N (Tops and Roots) Range kg/ha	¹Fertilizer N equivalent value $/ha
Chickling Vetch c.v.AC Greenfix	74	59	33-93	41
Black Lentil c.v.Indianhead	65	35	21-42	24
Feed pea c.v.Sirius	68	45	15-67	31
Tangier Flatpea	64	31	10-45	21

¹ Based on a total application cost of $0.69/kg N

Table 3: Effect of previous year's crop on the grain yield of wheat, c.v. Leader, at Swift Current, SK.

Previous year's crop¹	Year of wheat production 1985	Year of wheat production 1987	Year of wheat production 1989	3-year mean
Chickling vetch c.v.AC Greenfix	1250	1670	2500	1810
Black Lentil c.v.Indianhead	1160	1590	2400	1720
Feed pea c.v.Sirius	1100	1430	2290	1610
Tangier flatpea c.v.Tinga	1080	1520	2180	1590
Summer fallow unfertilized	1180	2040	2290	1840
Wheat N&P fertilized	774	1070	1580	1140

¹Chickling vetch, black lentil, feed pea, Tangier flatpea were incorporated at full bloom as green manure.

Table 4: Shoot dry matter and nitrogen production at 48 days after planting for six legume species at Winnipeg, MB on a zero N soil in 1996.

Crop type	Variety name	Plants per m² ^#	Vine length cm	Dry weight kg/ha	Nitrogen content kg/ha
Chickling vetch	AC Greenfix	36	77	1080	49
Lentil	Indianhead	96	37	980	38
Pea	Trapper	39	72	1130	43
Hairy vetch	-	82	51	720	43
Berseem clover	Bigbee	157	36	660	18
Alfalfa	Nitro	90	46	1230	49

Table 5: Shoot dry matter and nitrogen production at 71 days after planting for six legume species at Winnipeg, MB on a zero N soil in 1996.

Crop type	Variety name	Plants per m² #	Vine length cm	Dry weight kg/ha	Nitrogen content kg/ha
Chickling vetch	AC Greenfix	36	127	4390	150
Lentil	Indianhead	96	62	4720	120
Pea	Trapper	39	135	3650	110
Hairy vetch	-	82	102	2970	100
Berseem clover	Bigbee	157	80	3790	110
Alfalfa	Nitro	90	72	3050	110

For more information about AC Greenfix phone, fax, write, or email us at the address below.

JOHNSON SEEDS Attn: Eric Klassen
P.O. Box 3000
Arborg, MB R0C 0A0 ph. (204) 453-2514 fax (204) 376-2201 email: Eric Klassen

For more information about AC Greenfix production and marketing in the USA phone, write, or email to the address below.

DAKOTA FRONTIER SEEDS
6540 45th Avevnue
Flasher, ND 58535 ph. (701) 597-3919 email: Dakota Frontier Seeds
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